...What now makes this Parish unique is not the intensity of its care for the poor and marginalized but the vocal and active support of its Pastor, Father Michael Pfleger for the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama for President and the outlandish remarks he recently made in the pulpit of a Protestant Church.

In his own words:

"I really believe that she just always thought, 'This is mine! I'm Bill's wife, I'm white, and this is mine! I just gotta get up and step into the plate....And then out of nowhere came, 'Hey, I'm Barack Obama and she said, 'Oh, damn! Where did you come from? I'm white! I'm entitled! There's a black man stealing my show!'

"She wasn't the only one crying," he shouted as he mockingly pretended to cry, "There was a whole lot of white people crying...... "I'm white! I'm entitled! There's a black man stealing my show."

Senator Obama, who has publicly disavowed Rev. Wrights controversial comments, soon found himself having to disavow this Catholic Priest. He did so from the campaign trail this week with these words:

"As I have traveled this country, I've been impressed not by what divides us, but by all that unites us.... That is why I am deeply disappointed in Father Pfleger's divisive, backward-looking rhetoric, which doesn't reflect the country I see or the desire of people across America to come together."

Father Fleger apologized this week for his words. He said "I regret the words I chose on Sunday. These words are inconsistent with Sen. Obama's life and message, and I am deeply sorry if they offended Sen. Clinton or anyone else who saw them."

However, the controversy has not subsided in a Democratic Presidential campaign which may not end even with the end of the Democratic Primaries.

Cardinal George also seems to have put a damper on this priests continued high profile political activity:

"Racial issues are both political and moral and are also highly charged. Words can be differently interpreted, but Fr. Pfleger's remarks about Senator Clinton are both partisan and amount to a personal attack, I regret that deeply.

"To avoid months of turmoil in the church, Fr. Pfleger has promised me that he will not enter into campaigning, will not publicly mention any candidate by name and will abide by the discipline common to all Catholic priests."

"To avoid months of turmoil in the church, Fr. Pfleger has promised me that he will not enter into campaigning, will not publicly mention any candidate by name and will abide by the discipline common to all Catholic priests."

This appears on the parish home page...Tornado posted it on the Rush thread earlier (site must be getting slammed today):

Wright and Obama:... Saturday, 10 May 2008 WRIGHT AND OBAMA: TWO DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS TO A NEW AMERICA ...Senator Barack Obama and Reverend Jeremiah Wright, love America, are passionate about its future, and desire at their very core the best for this country and for each and every one...The truth is we need both!...

This has been a sad week for me. I have watched two friends who I respect, admire, and have a deep love for, torn apart by pundits and editorialists, talking heads, and political strategists! It has been sad because both men that I know, Senator Barack Obama and Reverend Jeremiah Wright, love America, are passionate about its future, and desire at their very core the best for this country and for each and every one of its citizens. I must also say that I find it quite hypocritical that conservative preachers and commentators who have identified themselves as the protectors and respecters of life are consistently silent on the issues of gun violence, poverty, no health care, poor education, and the effects of racism and classism that are continually killing life in our inner cities. Yet when other voices identify them, theyre called angry and unpatriotic.

There has been a strong desire and demand to make people take a side, draw a line in the sand and make a choice between Wright and Obama. I personally believe this is evil and unfair. First of all, I dont understand why Senator Obama and Reverend Wright are suddenly being held accountable and responsible for whatever the other says. This is not being done in either of the campaigns of Senator Clinton or Senator McCain. So the question must be asked, whats the hidden strategy as to why this is being done to Senator Obama and Reverend Wright? Secondly, why are they seemingly being forced to not only be held accountable for each other, but to speak for and sound like each other? They are different persons, different personalities, and have different purposes. Finally, I understand, appreciate, and believe we need both!

Senator Obama has spent the past two years and years earlier in his political life presenting America a vision of hope. Hope as to who we can be, how we can be inclusive and different, how we can do politics differently, and how we can build a new and better America. This vision of hope has set a fire of enthusiasm, excitement, and involvement across this country.

Reverend Wright, as a gifted preacher in the prophetic tradition, has spent his ministry identifying the sins, problems, and stumbling blocks of racism, sexism, classism, poverty, inequality, and the down right lies that must be acknowledged and eradicated if we are to build a new and better America. He has given hope to masses of people who have come to feel invisible in America.

The truth is we need both!

We need a voice of hope that points us to a vision and we need a prophetic voice that makes us uncomfortable and forces us to acknowledge our sins. Senator Barack Obama and Reverend Jeremiah Wright are, I believe, seeking the same thing, what the scriptures may call a new heaven and a new earth. Why are we trying to force them to drive down the same street in order to get there, rather than being more preoccupied with arriving to the place of new beginnings, and grateful to all the different voices that take us there? The true audacity of hope comes when it seems everything looks hopeless. Both Senator Barack Obama and Reverend Jeremiah Wright are calling us to hope  but from their different vantage points.

I challenge us all not to get caught up in the trick to choose one or the other. Rather, let us be committed to the new day and the new beginning for America. And let us be appreciative and thankful for all the different and necessary voices who call us to get there! The truth is we need Senator Barack Obama and we need Reverend Jeremiah Wright and, if we are serious about wanting a new America, we cannot afford to throw either one of them under the bus!

Rev. Michael L. Pfleger, Pastor

the Faith Community of Saint Sabina

This letter also appears in the Chicago Sun-Times on Sunday, May 4, 2008.

18
posted on 05/30/2008 12:55:03 PM PDT
by Miss Didi
("Good heavens, woman, this is a war not a garden party!" Dr. Meade, Gone with the Wind)

I thought so too.
Apparently too many in the US slept while these ‘progressive’ ideas spread like a cancer. They organized and gained power in high places. Now, they seek the highest office in the world. Is it too late?

Everything the good Priest said, I've heard similar versions from our own favorite conservative talk show hosts, excepting calling Clinton a racist. But, her comments recently concerning only whites who are hard working whites vote for her certainly makes her sound irritatingly snottishly smug along with her wailing about sexism, and she's got Rove's data to prove she's the best, the only one.

I'm of a mind to think what Clinton said last Friday concerning the how Robert Kennedy was killed as her reason for staying in the primary race is far more disgusting, vulgar, gruesome and shows a sinister ghoulishness that is entirely inappropriate. More so than what Father Michael Pfleger.

Sure seems like Clinton got a full pass from her comments and the Father's will be replayed incessantly by Hannity, Limbaugh and Fox News who can't wait to see her in the White House.

Frankly, I'd rather see Obama than that O'b!tch as the democrat nominee.

'This is mine! I'm Bill's wife, I'm white, and this is mine! I just gotta get up and step into the plate....And then out of nowhere came, 'Hey, I'm Barack Obama and she said, 'Oh, damn! Where did you come from? I'm white! I'm entitled! There's a black man stealing my show!'

I would guess that's probably about right, except for the "I'm white" part. And probably instead of "black man," I would guess she said 'some no-name @sshole' - based on comments by members of the Clinton staff, regarding marginally similar circumstances, in the past...

;>)

26
posted on 05/30/2008 1:04:44 PM PDT
by Who is John Galt?
("Sometimes I have to break the law in order to meet my management objectives." - Bill Calkins, BLM)

Today Rush tangentially referred to a video which is in the possession of the RNC of Michelle Obama ranting, raving and screaming in the isles of Trinity referencing ‘whitey’ in a derogatory manner. Does anyone know anything about this video?

BRIT HUME, HOST: That was Sunday's sermon at Barack Obama's Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. The minister, Michael Pfleger, a long time Catholic priest and community activist in Chicago, a member until just a few weeks ago of a group called "Catholics for Obama," an advisory board to the Obama campaign, and a man identified in a Chicago Sun-Times report four years ago as one of Barack Obama's spiritual counselors.

He has now apologized saying  excuse me  Obama has now reacted to this by saying he was, quote, "deeply disappointed in father Pfleger's divisive, backward-looking rhetoric."

And Pfleger himself has a statement out today saying "I regret the words I chose on Sunday. These words are inconsistent with Senator Obama's life and message, and I am deeply sorry if they offended Senator Clinton or anyone else who saw them."

So we appear to have a new reverend controversy swirling around the Obama campaign. Some thoughts on it now from Jeff Birnbaum, columnist for The Washington Post, Nina Easton, Washington Bureau Chief of Fortune Magazine, and the syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer, FOX News contributors all. (cont.)

And where was the Cardinal when Father Pfleger was calling for someone to snuff a gun shop owner?

The Cardinal has been MIA for some time. This article is more or less fluff. From what I've read, Pfleger was given an order to move on from St. Sabina's by Cardinal George some time ago (priests are not supposed to make particular churches a life-long habitat -- and Pfleger's a good example of why), but Pfleger ignored the order(s), and George did nothing.

The article also ignores, among many other things, Pfleger's adoption of sons -- not permitted by Catholic priests.

George's response to this outrage is also weak-kneed nonsense. It looks like the inmates are running the show in the Chicago diocese and I personally hope Pfleger continues his outrageous behavior to more deeply embarrass George.

It's apparent existence has been mentioned here in one or two other threads, citations to which I don't have. The essence is some DemonRat operatives have said to some columnists that they have been told by pubbie operatives that the pubbies have it and will use it in October. Right now, unless I see it, I'm putting about as much confidence in its existence as I do in the veracity of Larry Sinclair's allegations about Obama (not quite zip, but quickly getting there).

Father Fleger apologized this week for his words. He said "I regret the words I chose on Sunday. These words are inconsistent with Sen. Obama's life and message, and I am deeply sorry if they offended Sen. Clinton or anyone else who saw them."

Notice that this “Catholic” Cardinal only chastised the priest for how the priest’s comments were adversely directed at Senator Clinton and NOT, in the first instance, because the priest was actively and publicly supporting a pro-abortion candidate.

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